With the increase in advertising, even my Tivo-filtered brain has seen a few TV ads. So I decided to see if there was good reason for the additional cost with the premium level of Tequilas. With the help of Michelle, I went for a blind tasting of 5 premium silver tequilas with 1 well-level tossed in to see if it would be noticeable.

Silver is the entry level in Premium tequilas. Silver usually has a slightly more alcohol taste and a lot of roughness around the edges. The trade-off is the increased level of fruit in the flavor. The second level is gold, and the top tier is Reposado. The flavor is smoother, but the fruit becomes lighter and more integrated into the overall flavor.

Here is what I tried, in order of preference after the blind tasting:

Patrón

1800

Corazón

Milagro

Don Julio

Montezuma

Full notes after the jump.

– Kevin

The first tequila I tasted turned out to be the 1800. The alcohol came through on the nose along with a nice sweet characteristic. There was a very nice pineapple flavor that was evident on the taste. The finish had a slight burn, but was still a nicely flavored and relaxed drink.
(1800 Tequila)

My rating:

The second one on the table was a much different drink. This turned out to be the Milagro, which had a very sugary smell almost to the level of marshmallows. The flavor had less of the fruit I expected, continuing to enhance the sugary sweetness instead. The finish had no burn, but it didn’t seem quite what I was expecting. I suspect Michelle might like this one for its sweetness. (Milagro Tequila)

My rating:

Up next was a very fruity and dry smelling entry. It was a return to what I like about Tequilas, the tropical fruits and dry flavor were evident in this offering from Corazón. This return to a traditional flavor was a nice switch from the last. (Tequila Corazón)My rating:

The next was an undrinkable mess. The odor was reminiscent of spoiled wet straw. Sadly, this was the Montezuma and I could not progress past the nose for this one. It proved that the extra money is worth the cost from a low end to a higher end. (Barton Brands)

My rating: (Yes, it smelled that bad!)

Up next was the gem of the tasting. It has a deservedly high reputation and this Patrón did not disappoint. In the interest of full disclosure, the first premium tequila I ever has was Patrón. I still find it quite enjoyable. It had a very light and crisp smell with a great full flavored taste. (Patrón Spirits Company)

My rating:

Finally, the Don Julio – this had a more upfront nose and a heavier flavor. The tequila had a woodsy characteristic I did not find enjoyable. It helped me realize that I like the pineapple and guava flavors evident in other selections. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped or expected. (Don Julio from Diageo)